Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-01-21
THE TARIFF on WOOL.
Plain Talk prom the Vermont Mcrino
sheep Breeders

Whereas, According to the census OF 1850 Il
million farmers. scattered through AL the
United State. were engaged IN growing wool,
and more than two illons o; laborinv pco-
pie were largely. dependent on that industry
for living, aud also more than half million
of our in iustriul population are dcpendcnt
upon the manuiuctui G of wool INTO clothing
for support and these Industries grew INTO
these inrge proportions under tn protective
tariff of 1867, und, which no monopolics were
built up. but, on the cor trary, under the ell
fleets of that zane tariff competition between
those who grow the wool and the manufac-
turcrs OF wool into cl thing and other wooden |
fabrics consumed ty the people. all kinds of |
wooden Y Jods, especially clothlrg nave stead |
ily declined in price until they were fu nished |
the whole population muoh cheaper than they |
were furni h previous to the passage OF the |
act of 1861 or ut any time under system of
tariff for revenue or free trade. In view OF
these facts il is resolved 10y the Vermont Mcr- |
mo Sheep Breeders association.
|. That anything tending TO disturb or Grip
pie these industries is not only II great dam
age and wrong to those who Obtain living
toy them, hut 10 the whOle pOpulatlOn OF the
2. The experiment of lowering the duties
on wool by the act of March, lsS3 has been
great damage to the woOl-grOwng interest of
the country, not only stopping its EtOwth IN
proportion to the growth of the p 'pulation,
or OF its own before the passage of that act,
but has caused Il large decrease in the num-
her of sheep and in the amount OF domestic
wool produced, and ms political cXpcdient
vecy damaging to the party in power ana re
spOnsiblc for its adoption,
,. The efforts of some of the members of
Congress- under the leadership of the speaker
of the House of Representatives and charmhh
OF the mmittce of ways and means. and in
accordance with the recommendation OF the
secretary of the treasury to lace wool ON the
free list and largely reduce the duties on wool
ems, threatens the destruction OF wool wv
ing, to or pplc the manufacturers of wooden
fabrics and encourage foreign monnpolics not
only to further grind the ace of their poor
employees but to dictate the price of woodland
woOlens in the markets of this country so
soon as by securing the adoption of their per-
/ nil - Stn ar
ing the wool and wooden industries of the
United States. and finally to be able to send
more money to this country to influence our
electio sto be carried to further their own
interests.
A. This, if accomplished according to the
recommendation of Secretary Manning, VIII be
| in direct violation of the promise made and
set forth in the platform of he last national
! Democratic convention at chicago IN 1881, not
! to injurc any of the industries of the country,
and we believe will be aS disastrous 10 the par
| ~ now in power as was the act of 1883 to the
party that iy Il majority of its members IN
| Congress forced that act upon the country
| against the protests of the woul-growcrs, ana
rs ha. been later to some OF the leaders no
propose such measures
! D We be rVc placing wool on the free list
will destroy that industry In the United states,
Will throw Il large proportion OF those engag-
cd in it or living 10y 1t out of employment or
| into compel ton with lahOrcrs engaged IN
other vOCutiOns, will thereby inevitably re-
duce the price OF labor and decrease the pur-
| chasing power of this class or our citizens,
ana We pronounce the offer al cheap clothing
as likely to Toe realized ou' of amp such meas
nre as II snare and delusion, better calculat-
ed to help foreign labOrers If any, and benefit
foreign industries. than our own ana can he
properly DIES gnated only as Political clap
trap designed to catch votes without giving
any compromising adv tntagc to the mass of
lahOring citizens.
| g. We believe the restoration of the duties
on wool and woolens to the same standard as
established in 1861 would not only prove a
benefit to those industries, but, for reasons
set forth in the preamble to these resolutions,
beneficial to the whole population, and is de-
manded to save the woD-growng industry
from still further declining, If not from prac-
teal destruction.
T. We believe the demand for a reduction
of the surplus revenue can be more certainly
accomplished by abolishing the internal tax
alton on American productions. and the soon
err such taxation is removed the better it will
he for the prosperity of the country, and the
abolition of these taxes would 40 away with
an army OF Office holders. living at the public
expense, and "pcrniciously active" in work.
ing to r tain the party in powe, who appoint
ed them.
woo-growers and the manufacturers of wool
ems each upon the other for their prosperity
and success, and we are ready TO cooperate
with the manufacturers to retain such indi-
vidual protection as we have,and to
secure such additional protection rs will en-
able each to prosper,
9. We recognize the friendliness of the man.
Miacturers as expressed by tn ir representa-.
tiveS, Mcssrs. Edward II. ANN down of New
York, and william Whitman of Bost IN, he,o
ing any wish for free wool and giving good
sound reasons therefor, aed by their ac
ton at Boston ana New , York proes,me
proposed in the bill rep0r ed to the House OF
Representatives by he majority OF the com
[ mlttce of way and means during the frs
; ,ossOn of the present Congress, and we here
= by return our thanEs for the same.
! 10. 1t is the opinion of this association tina
/ the wOOl-grOwcrs of this country are SutIerins
:. from the substitution of a large amount o
foreign wool in place of domestic 10y the de
cIsion of the treasury officials, or defect in tn,
act of March, 1883 classifying wOrsIed good
and yarns, and admitting them under ii lowe
nate of duty than other manufactures of WOO
and that this threatens to destroy the manu-
: features of worsteds in this country, and W
believe that justice to the growers of wool a
well rs to manufacturers OF worstcd require
e that the law should be interpreted or altere
so as to afford the same protection to thi
branch of wooden industry as is accorded {
n other branches o. the same and intended fo
n this.
. II. This association has always slIpporte
. the National Wool-GrOwers' ASSOCIATION, an
! so far AS in its power assisted and cooperate
i with II, paying ito assessments promptlys an
e spending literally TO further the interests {
e the wool growers of the whole country,
n proportion to the number of sheep and woo
Il raised in Vermont. many times az large a
- any other state, and we think we have earnc
- the right to call upon other woo-grown
u states that have not been active or liberal [
u awake TO thelr auty ana interests ana co'oI
is crate with this, to assist, by cont nhutions an
4 active work, to su tam the National associs
If ton and their own interest,
IN L. This association would express its sens
- OF obligation TO the American Protcctiy
II Tariff League" H. Ammldown, presiden
y. Robert =. Porter, secretary, a. NJ. Garlan,
l. assistant secretary, with headquarters in Ne
II York, and the industrial Lcagu :" JOsep
ar Wharton, president, Cyrus Elder, secreiar,
a with headquarters in Philadelphia, for the
" active efforts to protect and sustain the il
III dustrial interests of the country, and esp,
tr clully for their efficient efforts IN behalf g
II the wool growers.
Is. As American citizens, desirOu to maxi
our country prosperous and independent, "
IL dcprrcatc tie teaching- in so many of our co
IN lcgcs of ire trade ny profess rs without bus
ness experience, prcjudced in favor OF the
rios, who suppress the arguments and adVu
al tagcs OF protection to he derived from the hi
S : tory of our country under bOtn systems. al
is the facts 10 he CLEANED from the busine
Y W rid HrOL nd them, and believe such tcachIT
~. to he Improbable. un- American ana devO
~ 81 patriotism.
d II. We unhcstatngly pronounce any sue
; lnstit. tiOns rs allow money furnished by Il
t.. C)Ddcn club to be offered rs prizes for Il
r. hest ESSAYS on free trade us takers OF brlb
: 10 teach our young men to damage the be
H. Interests Of our country TO tuVor those of fo